2011 was a particularly hard year to look back on. Sure, there was plenty to celebrate, from Ragamala Dance’s exceptional year, to the opening of the Cowles Center for Dance, and a grant that gave the city of St. Paul close to $1 million to employ artists.

But 2011 was also a year marked by loss. Not just institutions we loved – like the Southern Theater – but people. Some left us at a ripe old age, after leading full lives – John Davis and Leonard Parker – but others left us way too soon. I’m thinking about playwright Tom Poole, poet Roy McBride and jazz singer Christine Rosholt. Here at MPR, we lost both Arthur Hoehn and Tom Keith.

So as we start 2012, let’s give thanks to those who helped us get here, but weren’t able to make the journey themselves.

Here are just some of the highlights of what happened in the arts world this past year: